This month saw the Gambling Commission publish its social research paper: Gambling Behaviour in Great Britain 2015. The report provides a comprehensive update on gambling trends across the UK, examining the rates of participation, at-risk gambling and problem gambling, and explores the associated characteristics and behaviours.

New figures have shown that assaults and criminal damage in and around betting shops in London are on the rise.

The number of violent incidents going up by 24% from 2014 to 2016, and criminal damage rising by a third in the same time period.

As well as this, some incidents of criminal damage in betting shops were previously remaining unreported to the authorities. The guidance for reporting such incidents has changed, but with no indication as to when this change took place there is chance that these figures could be higher.

In the first Prime Minister’s Questions of the new Parliament, Labour’s Jo Stevens delivered a ‘ruthless burn’ to Prime Minister, Theresa May.

The Cardiff Central MP, Jo Stevens, wants to see a crackdown on FOBTs asking Theresa May to “now commit to legislating against fixed odds betting terminals”, machines which she believes to be the “cause of much hardship in our communities”.

Theresa May responded by saying a consultation had been carried out into FOBTs which have been likened to crack cocaine due to their addictive nature.

A former employee of Ladbrokes Coral has exposed tactics used by the company to encourage customers to increase the amount they are betting on FOBTs.

The senior figure revealed that staff were encouraged to bend the rules that are in place to protect gambling addicts, in exchange for bonuses and rewards. The shocking fact was revealed under a condition of anonymity, but the staff member stated that the only way to protect gamblers from losses made on FOBT machines is to radically reduce the stakes.

It has been reported that UK gamblers have lost £11 billion on FOBTs since 2008, a figure which has cost the economy almost 200,000 jobs according to recent research.

Many believe these new figures will add further pressure to Theresa May to outline Tory plans surrounding FOBTs and a FOBT stake reduction. Labour has already confirmed their promise to cap stakes to £2 and Conservative Think Tank, ResPublica, has urged the Prime Minister to follow suit.